STC, the Italy-based battery recycling technology firm, has announced a battery recycling project in Brazil in collaboration with the South American lead-acid battery maker Pioneiro Ecometais.
This collaboration includes designing and implementing a new battery paste desulphurisation plant as well as a heavy plastic upgrading plant.
The battery paste desulphurisation plant would also include the purification and crystallisation of sodium sulphate solution.
This plant could in future incorporate the firm’s proprietary U4Lead process which uses the amino compound urea as a chemical in desulphurisation and electrolyte neutralisation.
The company said that the heavy plastic upgrading plant would be dedicated to the recovery of materials and energy from polyethylene separators and other heavy plastics.
Pioneiro, which is based in Água Doce Brazil, is said to process approximately 100,000 tonnes of used lead-acid batteries (ULAB) a year. It said that over 5 million new batteries are produced annually by the firm.
Both companies recently had a meeting to kickstart the development of the desulphurisation and crystallization plant.
Alongside this, STC has multiple on-going projects across Europe, the US, Australia and North Africa.
The firm believes these projects in Brazil will help it to address the complex challenges of the global battery recycling industry.
Giorgio La Sala, CEO, STC, said: “We are honoured to partner with Pioneiro Ecometais, a company that shares our commitment to innovation and sustainability in battery recycling.
Alberto Bergamaschini, commercial director, STC, said: “This collaboration strengthens our position as a trusted technology partner for ambitious recycling projects worldwide.”
Image: STC and Pioneiro held a kick-off meeting for the first plant at the latter’s operational Unit. Credit: STC.
